Barberry plant `Gentry` cultivar

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Berberis thunbergii is distinguishable from the closest known variety and from its parent due to the color of its leaves and by its ability to grow in full sun and with midday waterings without suffering sunburn or scald. Newly formed leaves have a rich blush burgundy color and are covered with a velvety pubescence that beads water like a freshly waxed car. As the leaves mature, they darken to a reddish-black satin patina.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject variety was discovered in 1989 growing in a bed of 15,000 containerized Berberis thungbergii Crimson Pygmy at the Leo Gentry Wholesale Nursery in Gresham, Oreg. The plants in this bed were propagated from vegetative cuttings taken from several thousand mature Crimson Pygmy plants growing at the nursery. All of the plants growing in this bed were from cuttings taken from Crimson Pygmy plants.

The new variety is distinguishable from other varieties of barberry due to the rich blush burgundy color of its leaves, which turn to a reddish-black satin patina as they mature. The variety also exhibits more resistance to sunburn and scald than other red-leaved varieties of barberry. Plants of the new variety have been asexually reproduced at Gresham, Oreg. using soft-wood cuttings. The characteristics of the new variety have been found to remain true when asexually reproduced, through multiple generations over a four-year period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a recently planted one gallon-sized plant of the subject variety in a landscape setting showing the color of newly formed leaves.

FIG. 2 is a close-up of the variety showing the color of mature leaves and showing the beading of water on the leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following description is based on plants growing at the Leo Genry Wholesale Nursery in Gresham, Oreg. Color references are to the Pantome Matching System, 1963, 1992.

The vegetative and reproductive parts of the new variety are, in most respects, typical of barberry plants. Its growth pattern and the size and shape of its leaves are similar to the Crimsom Pygmy barberry. The mature plant develops into a densely compact, low-mounding shrub, slightly smaller than the Crimson Pygmy, but similar in habit. It produces clusters of small yellow flowers followed by tiny red fruiting bodies that are typical of the genus.

Juvenile leaves of the subject variety are covered with a beautiful velvety pubescence that beads water drops like a freshly waxed car. The leaf develops as a superior and much richer blush burgundy (No. 504) than does Crimson Pygmy, then gradually darkens to a soft but showy, reddish-black satin patina (No. 439-440) as it fully matures. The leaves of Crimson Pygmy develop a reflective, waxy sheen which does not occur with the subject variety. The contrast between the two plants is readily noticeable at a glance under any lighting, but is especially pronounced in bright sunlight. The leaves of the subject variety retain their color throughout the propagation period, even in the shade, whereas the parent, Crimson Pygmy, washes out to a burnt orange color. Another particularly unique characteristic of the subject variety is that its leaves resist burning even in full sun. Blocks of plants were deliberately placed on a south aspect so they received maximum exposure to the hot afternoon sun. In spite of daily waterings and water drops standing on the tender young leaves, there was no apparent evidence of sunburn or scald. This is a distinct difference from Crimson Pygmy.

Stems of new growth are nearly identical in color to the blush burgundy of the leaves, but there is one botanically unique stem feature not seen in other red-leaved barberry. Berberis thunbergii typically has one spine at the base of each leaf node. The spine on the subject variety most commonly occurs in threes on the mature plant.

It is believed that the subject variety is cold-hardy to U.S.D.A. Cold-hardiness Zone 3.

Details of the subject variety in comparison with the parent variety and the closest known patented varieties are set forth in the following table: (The characteristics of the patented varieties are based on the patents and thus are limited to the disclosures made in the patents, as noted).

    ______________________________________     SPECIFICATION GENTRY CULTIVAR     ______________________________________     Foliage     Color     Immature      Pantone #504. New leaves                   emerge burgundy both surfaces.                   Not glossy-distinctive flat "finish"     Mature        Pantone #439-440 w/hints of                   green to all green underside                   Not glossy-distinctive flat "finish"     Interior & Heavy Shade                   Pantone #575-Dull green w/some                   splotches of red mature leaf color                   Not glossy-distinctive flat "finish"     Texture       Finely pubescent, both surfaces                   whitish under     Size & Shape  Obovate to Orbicular. Much more                   rounded that Crimson Pygmy.                   L × W = 0.75-1" × .6"     Margin        Smooth     Plant Growth     Rate          3-6"/yr at the location of plant                   culture in Gresham, OR     Form          Densely compact, low mounding.                   Expected to mature at about                   21/2' H × 3' W. Multiple upright                   basal branching.     Stems         Older stems woody. New growth                   emerges green w/red tinge,                   turning entirely red, then woody.     Spines        Spine is borne singly at first then                   most commonly occurs 3-parted     Internodal length                   0.4-0.6" at location of culture     Flowering Habit                   Small red flowers followed by tiny                   red fruiting bodies are typical for                   the Genus     ______________________________________     SPECIFICATION CRIMSON PYGMY     ______________________________________     Foliage     Color     Immature      Pantone #490. New leaves                   emerge crimson both surfaces.                   Highly glossy     Mature        Pantone #4975 w/hints of                   green to all green underside                   Hightly glossy     Interior & Heavy Shade                   Pantone #574-Shiny green w/                   some splotches of the mature red                   Highly glossy     Texture       Smooth, waxy, both surfaces-                   somewhat glaucous under     Size & Shape  Obovate to Spatulate-oblong                   More elongated                   L × W = 1.25" ×     Margin        Smooth     Plant Growth     Rate          Growth rate in similar conditions                   at Gresham, OR about twice that                   of Royal Burgundy     Form          Low, dense plant much wider                   than high. 11/2' H × 21/2-3' W                   Multiple upright basal branching.     Stems         Older growth woody. New                   growth green with reddish tips.     Spines        Usually has single spines     Internodal length                   0.4-0.6" at location of culture     Flowering Habit                   Small yellow flowers, tiny red                   fruiting bodies     ______________________________________     SPECIFICATION DeGROOT PP 703     ______________________________________     Foliage     Color     Immature      Upper = Victoria Lake Plate 1                   Under = corydalis Green Pl 41     Mature        Upper = Hayes Maroom Plate 13                   Under = Lt Grape Green Plate 41     Interior & Heavy Shade                   Not stated on patent     Texture       Leathery above, glauscent below     Size & Shape  Spatulate. About 11/2" long     Margin        Not stated on patent     Plant Growth     Rate          To 4' w/n 3 years     Form          Upright, ascending branches.                   To 4' w/n 3 years     Stems         Chestnut brown. Upright                   branches.     Spines        Simple spine at each leaf cluster     Internodal length                   Not stated on patent     Flowering Habit                   Inconspicuous yellow flower                   racemes. Oblong Nopal Red fruit.     ______________________________________     SPECIFI-     CATION   CRAWFORD PP 1969                              de WIT PP 6269     ______________________________________     Foliage     Color     Immature Munsell Mod Red Munsell Brt Fuscia              2.5 R 4/10      5 RP 5/6-3-6     Mature   Munsell Dk Red 2.5                              Munsell 7.5 P 4/2-2-2              R 3/7           w/lighter maroon veins     Interior &              Not stated on patent                              Not stated on patent     Heavy Shade     Texture  Not stated on patent                              Glabrous     Size & Shape              Ovate. L × W = 1/2×                              Broadly elliptical.              1" × 1/4-1"                              L × W = 2" × 1-11/2 "     Margin   Not stated on patent                              Sometimes serrated                              w/age     Plant Growth     Rate     Not stated on patent                              Not stated on patent     Form     Spreading, dense                              Fountain-like habit.              Medium size     Strong basal branching.                              Size not specified.     Stems    Mature wood is  Older stems cordovan              moderate yellowish-                              brown. Immature twigs              brown streaked w/                              vary in color from deep              dark red. New growth,                              magenta at the tip to              moderate red    brown at the base     Spines   Vary from simple to 3-                              Not stated on patent              parted     Internodal              Not stated on patent                              Not stated on patent     length     Flowering              No flowers or fruit                              Yellow flowers and red     Habit                    ellipsoidal fruit.     ______________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Berberis thunbergii substantially as shown and described, characterized particularly by the rich blush burgundy color of its newly-formed leaves which mature to a reddish-black satin patina, and by the resistance of the leaves to sunburn and scald. 